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Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama

The Shenanigans of a Bookish Mama journeying through Motherhood, Homeschooling and lots of Books!

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The Amish Baker's Secret Courtship by Amy Grochowski ~ Book Review

March 29, 2024

 




About the Book 


Book: The Amish Baker's Secret Courthship
Author: Amy Grochowski
Genre: Amish Fiction
Publisher: Love Inspired
Release Date: March 26, 2024

A promise brought him home…

Will a pretend courtship make him stay?

Cassie Weaver dreams of opening a bakery—but that dream hinges on her good friend Martin Beiler. Martin once fled their Amish community due to his struggles with autism. Now he’s back to fulfill his promise to help Cassie set up her longed-for bakeshop. But when everyone suspects they are secretly courting, Cassie encourages the matchmaking. Because she’s hoping she can convince Martin this is where he truly belongs…

From Love Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.





My Thoughts 


I loved returning to the town of Promise amongst the Amish and their way of life and visiting with old friends. This book is the story of Cassie Weaver, a baker and Martin Beiler a beekeeper that have been friends since childhood but separated for a while. Cassie has been sweet on Martin since they were younger and she's the only one that has truly understood him. 

This was such a sweet story and I loved how the author has made the lead character someone who is in the spectrum. I don't think I have read any stories where the lead has Autism and is being portrayed in a very positive way. I know she has written about this topic before in a previous book and she truly does a fantastic job.

Overall I really enjoyed this story, it was full of sweet romance and faith. If you enjoy reading Amish you need to ass Amy to your list of need to read authors!

I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.






About the Author




More from PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR, AMY GROCHOWSKI, including a FREE Prince Edward Island series prequel at https://linktr.ee/amygrochowski

Amy's deep appreciation for the Amish faith and way of life stems from six years of living and working with a Beachy Amish family, as well as her own Anabaptist roots. After a nursing career of over twenty years, Amy is now fulfilling her long-awaited dream as an author of inspirational romance. She lives in the bustling foothills of North Carolina with her husband and two sons, one of whom has autism spectrum disorder.
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Flicker of Trust by Eleanor Bertin ~ Book Review

March 21, 2024

 



Welcome to the Blog Tour for Flicker of Trust by Eleanor Bertin, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


About the Book


Flicker of Trust

Title: Flicker of Trust
Series:
Burning Bright #2
Author:
Eleanor Bertin
Publisher: Leaf & Blade Publishing
Release Date:
February 21, 2024
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense


When a woman disappears, Ryan’s past is fair game. 


Party animal Ryan Hainstock has made an about-face. He’s now an elder-caring, money-saving, church-going man with bright plans to set himself up farming. Somehow, whether he rates with her or not, those plans always include sweet and smart Lynnie Min and her young daughter. Problem is, Ryan’s past keeps coming back to condemn him. 


Lynnie Min, too young for the title of widow, travels the lonely road of single motherhood in a rural community. Her dreams were crushed by tragedy when terrorists claimed the lives of her husband and one of her daughters. While gratitude should fill her heart for the presence of three-year-old Anya, a longing for something more stirs within her. She can’t help noticing the changes in Ryan, a man she once knew as a high school jock. 


While their affection deepens, greater forces conspire to destroy their growing love. A murder charge, a kidnapping, a child abandoned…Can Ryan and Lynnie overcome danger and distrust to find each other again?  


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub



My Thoughts


This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. This happened to be Book 2 in the series and although I didn't feel lost while reading I can also see how Book 1 would have been helpful in getting to know Lynnie Min's background a bit better. This book is about Lynnie and Ryan. I really enjoyed their story. Ryan has a past that he's trying to leave behind. I loved how throughout the book he is seeking to be a better man in God's eyes. His dad is really tough on him and honestly he was my least favorite character. I'm curious to see if he has a redemption arc in the next book. 

Lynnie sees something in Ryan that no one else seems to. She knows he is trying and although doubts creep in at times she still knows that he is trying to put his life in the right path. The growth of these characters throughout the book was very realistic. 

Overall I really enjoyed this story and thought the author did a great job with the characters and the faith thread. I can't wait to read more from her in the future!






About the Author


Eleanor Bertin


Inspired by the depths of God’s love and mercy to humanity, Eleanor Bertin writes fiction that ponders the place where life’s perplexities meet faith’s certainties. Before raising and home-educating a family of seven children for thirty years, Eleanor received a college diploma in Communications and worked in agriculture journalism. She is the author of five novels, as well as the memoir, Pall of Silence, about her late son, Paul. She and her husband of 42 years live in central Alberta, Canada and are the grandparents of ten amazing grandchildren.


Connect with Eleanor by visiting eleanorbertinauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card!


Flicker of Trust JustRead Tours giveaway


Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 19, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 26, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.


Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.


Enter Giveaway



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Flicker of Trust JustRead Blog Tour

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This Ain't No Promised Land by Tina Shelton ~ Book Blitz

March 19, 2024

 





Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for This Ain’t No Promised Land by Tina Shelton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!



About the Book


This Ain't No Promised Land

Title: This Ain’t No Promised Land
Author:
Tina Shelton
Publisher:
Kregel Publications
Release Date:
March 19, 2024
Genre:
Christian General Fiction


"With stellar storytelling skills, Tina Shelton reminds us that while love isn't always enough to erase the hurts, it's the only way to survive them. A powerful read!" 


--Julie Cantrell, New York Times & USA Today best-selling author of Perennials 


When her husband dies, Charlotte can't face the things she's done that could tear her family apart. So she drops a goodbye letter in the cookie jar and flees south to escape everything--her life, her three daughters, the mistakes she's made, and the secrets eating her alive. 


Now Gracey and her sisters are alone on Chicago's South Side with nothing but their home and belongings. They're doing everything they can to stay together, but young teens aren't meant to parent themselves. Their close-knit Black community gathers around them to keep them fed and clothed with the utilities on, but that's not enough to fix the damage of abandonment. 


Hundreds of miles away, Charlotte is struggling to keep her own head above water. She's made a close friend who talks to her about God in a way Charlotte's never heard before. But when her demons catch up to her, the shaky peace she tried to build shatters. Even if she's able to find the courage to embrace motherhood again, will it be enough to save the family she left behind?


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub




Excerpt



Sometimes the way Mom looked at us let us know she loved us, but her real thoughts were trapped inside her body and, in order to know what was really going on, we had to read, pick apart, and divvy up whatever her soul offered. We had to listen to her breathe, like the way she sighed deep at night with a sliver of a high pitched hum. That let us know she was tired of trying to figure out whatever it was she was forever trying to figure out, but she was gonna stick with it anyway.

We had to watch her eyes, the way they lit up when she saw us walk through the door after school. We had to soak in the way she traced our hairline with her fingers when we were waking out of sleep; the touch of her thumb to cool our cheeks when we were crying. We had to watch which piece of baked chicken she'd give us at dinner and compare the sizes of our cake for dessert. We watched fo her reaction to us when we stood next to her on the porch and watched the sun go down. If she smiled, she loved us; if she sighed and looked down the street, we were a nuisance. Having Mom around was like watching the sky in the spring. 

When she was okay, the sun shined and she made the world a happier place to live in, but when she wasn't, it was overcast. but even with all that quietness of her soul and our gray days, we knew were better off with her home than not. 

Who knew emptiness could fill every nook in a space with such thick silence?

(pg.10)



About the Author


Tina Shelton


Tina Shelton is registrar at Chicago Theological Seminary and a pastor in the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is also the mother of two young adults, and loves walking, working out, and traveling with her family. This is her first novel.


Connect with Tina by following her on Instagram @ts_walking



Tour Giveaway


(1) winner will win a signed copy of This Ain't No Promised Land and several book-related goodies, including a friendship bracelet, a mini journal, a pen, and a prayer tin.


This Ain't No Promised Land JustRead Tours giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 18, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 25, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.


Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.


Enter Giveaway


This Ain't No Promised Land JustRead Blog + Review Tour


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse ~ Book Review

March 15, 2024


About the Book 


Book: Set in Stone
Author: Kimberley Woodhouse
Series: Treasures of the Earth, Book 2
Genre: Christian Historical Mystery
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: March 12, 2024

From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now, she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery.

Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all.

This enrapturing historical novel from bestselling author Kimberley Woodhouse transports you to the nineteenth-century Bone Wars-era, where adventure and romance combine to create an irresistible tale.


My Thoughts 


What a great second book in the Treasures of Earth series! I have to say that if this is the first book you pick up from the series you will be okay. I felt like this read as a stand alone except for the introduction to the "Bone Wars" in the first book. This book starts off with a bang and has you turning pages the entire time. 

Martha is a paleontologist. She grew up admiring her father's work in paleontology and dreaming of one day pursuing the career. She accomplishes this with some obstacles still obstructing her way. She is definitely a strong female character who is trying to figure out the pull between religion and science. Jacob is our leading man and he is strong in his faith. Together they make a great team. 

Listen, this story is full of all the perfect elements... there is history mixed with science, romance, faith, suspense and a mystery that I did not expect at all. Seriously I did not see it coming at all. Seriously I cannot delve into it more because I don't want to give anything away. 

Overall I really enjoyed the story. I think the growth of the characters was realistic and the way that Martha realizes what is truly important in life will resonate as you are reading the story. The ending was good but I am wondering if we will see these characters again in the next book... 

If you are looking for a new series to start I definitely recommend this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.



About the Author


Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty-five books. A lover of history and research, she often gets sucked into the past and then her husband has to lure her out with chocolate and the promise of eighteen holes on the golf course. She loves music, kayaking, and her family. Her books have been awarded the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Reader's Choice Award, Selah Award, Spur Award, and others. A popular speaker/teacher, she's shared with over 1,000,000 people at more than twenty-five hundred venues across the country. Married to the love of her life for three decades, she lives and writes in the Poconos where she's traded in her hat of "craziest mom" for "coolest grandma." Connect with Kim at:
www.kimberleywoodhouse.com 
www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAu...
www.instagram.com/kimberleywoodhouse
www.twitter.com/kimwoodhouse
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Forever Free by Hope Toler Dougherty ~ Book Review

March 7, 2024

 



Welcome to the Blog Tour for Forever Free by Hope Toler Dougherty, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


About the Book

Forever Free


Title: Forever Free
Series: Forever #4
Author:
Hope Toler Dougherty
Publisher:
Scrivenings Press
Release Date:
January 29, 2024
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Phoebe Sinclair combines her love of flowers and teaching to nurture a cut flower business on her grandfather’s land. She’s got her hands full growing the farm, growing her customer base, and dealing with her growing attraction to the aloof man who’s volunteered to help make her farming dream come true. 


Can she focus on her main job, or will a pair of yearning eyes and a hurting heart divert her worthy goals? 


Heath Daniels has resigned himself to a life of singleness as he watches his siblings couple up and set wedding dates. Tracking their happiness, however, is more difficult than he expected. A real struggle, in fact. 


Feeling the old troubles creep back to tempt him—troubles from the bad time when he dropped out of college to explore less-than-noble pursuits—propels him to volunteer for manual labor that leaves him exhausted at the end of every day and out of trouble. 


His additional hours of agri-business, however, lead to more struggles with an intriguing farmer. Does he have the strength to resist old temptations as well as a beautiful new one, too?  


PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub


More Books In This Series

   




My Thoughts


Although I haven't read the entire series I did read book 3 so I was familiar with the characters and was glad to "see" them again. This book is heartwarming and deals with two characters that have very strong personalities. Heath is our leading man and is trying to atone for his past mistakes. Phoebe is a florist and a needs to be in control at all times. They both clash but are willing to put that aside in order to work together. 

I absolutely loved Phoebe's grandfather and the way he tries to play matchmaker. This story deals with a lot of different things. Guilt, grief, faith and healing are a few of the topics that make this a wonderful inspiring story. If you enjoy Contemporary Christian Romances I would definitely add this author to your reading lists the way she integrates God throughout her stories is definitely faith building for the reader.



About the Author


Hope Toler Dougherty

Hope Toler Dougherty holds a Master’s degree in English and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her early novels are Irish Encounter, Mars…With Venus Rising, and Rescued Hearts. Her Forever series includes her latest, Forever Free, Forever Music, Forever Home, and the novella, "A Hatteras Surprise."

Connect with Hope by visiting hopetolerdougherty.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

Tour Giveaway


(1) winner will win print copies of all 4 books in the Forever series, a $25 Amazon card, and a bookmark!


Forever Free JustRead Tours giveaway


Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 4, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 11, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.


Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.


Enter Giveaway


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!


Forever Free JustRead Blog Tour

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